Ascertain claims of consumers

The fluctuated bills served to the people in different areas has raised concerns among the masses at a time when the authorities have resorted to power curtailment in Jammu & Kashmir due to the limited power availability. The people blame the faulty smart meters recently installed by the government, which was aimed to ensure round-the-clock electricity to the people in these metered areas. In some areas, the people have staged a protest, seeking the intervention of the authorities to look into the matter and charge them according to their usage. Such claims are being made by the people in several areas. However, there has been no official statement from the authorities in this regard, leaving the common masses in trouble. The smart meters in every locality across Jammu & Kashmir were being installed to bring a respite to the people from irregular power cuts, which has however, failed to achieve the motive so far. At this juncture, the government, especially the concerned Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) must look into the matter and ensure that the genuine grievances of consumers are addressed at the shortest period of time. The need of the hour is to constitute the teams in every such locality to ascertain the veracity of the claims made by the consumers here and any such claims proven right should be dealt with accordingly. The smart meters in these localities should be checked thoroughly and simultaneously there is a need to take appropriate action in this regard so that the consumers could heave a sigh of relief.